The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-11-05
KINSLEY, KAS.
A Kansas Town In which Many ottH""
People are Interested.

and future possibilities, l am constrained
20 devote few moments TO plain ana
truthful statement of the subject, or at least
this locality, for the perusal Of old neigh
bors and friends.
This place, from which my letter Is dated,
Is the county seat of Edwards county, real
pretty little town, well laid out, we'll water.
ed, and whose prospects are as bright as
any of the county towns In this fertile por-
ton of Kansas.
But first, let me describe, very briefly,
something of the county itself; the rich
region that is tributary and depends upon
Kingsley for Its market. II has geo
graphical area of six hundred square miles,
or three hundred and ninety.one thousand,
six hundred and eighty square acres
This is large region, but II must be re-
membered that Kansas Is one of the largest
states In the Union, and Its subdivisions
are much greater than In the average states
east of the Mississippi. The general sur.
face of the county is II gently rolling prai.
RE, large proportion of 1t very level, with
It's bottom land averaging three miles In
width These rich bottom lands constitute
fully one. quarter Of the whole county.
We have excellent water and In abund-
ance the average depth of wells reaching
only twenty-five feet. Water we all know
IS one of the most important essentials In
an agricultural country, and in this particu,
lar our county is blessed; there is no such
thing as failure.
As is peculiar to an absolutely prairie re.
zion, there Is but little natural timber; but
the people here have been diligent In tree.
planting since their settlement of the coun-
try and large artificial groves are to be
found everywhere. So much so Is this the
case that the original monotonous aspect OF
the plains has been changed. There Is no
difficulty TO be experienced In raising
trees. When once planted they grow lux
uriantly, If cared for, and 1t only requires a
few seasons for the settler to have an
abundance OF grateful shade about his
home, and for his stock. II seems hardly
necessary for me to say anything In rela
ton to the fertility of Kansas soil. That
has been proved to the satisfaction of the
world at innumerable times-at the CEN
tennial, and at every exposition where the
State has entered Its claim. But this much
can venture: The Great Arkansas Valley,
of which this county Is an integral part, Is
called the Garden Spot" of the continent;
is conceded by all to be the most fertile
portion of the State, as Its crop record Will
confirm, to be seen by any one who may
desire to investigate for himself.
The population of the county approx
mates eight thousand, which is rapidly In
creasing In healthful ratio. There Is
room for many thousands more, however,
for the area devoted TO farms as yet COM
prlses only about one quarter OF the coun-
TVS area.
The value OF field crops and live stock
raised last year was in round numbers a
million dollars; that OF horticultural, dairy
products, eggs and poultry over a hundred
thousand more.
We have thirty organized school districts,
and four church organizations, of the sew
eral evangelical denominations, each with
Its completed building, and one, the Con-
gregational, In this city, the handsomest In
this part Of the State. Kansas boasts, and
rightly too, of the magnificent and ample
school system. In this particular Of educa-
tional facilities, the county is entitled to
Its share of the honor.
We have two excellent newspapers, one
republican (the Mercury), and the other
democratic the Graphic), both weekly and
published at Kinsley. The Mercury also
publishes an evening daily.
Only nineteen thousand acres In the
county are fenced, and this may seem
strange; but as the herd law is in opera
ton here, farmer Is not compelled to en-.
close his land. 1t is purely matter OF
personal choice.
The climate of Kansas is proverbial fol-
its excellence, particularly the autumns
We are now in the midst of our delightful
Indian summer. The days are as beautiful
as In May. No fires are required except II
the early morning and after shutdown
This weather usually continues until Christ
mas-sometimes far beyond, with now an6
then short storm.
Kansas Is essentially the State for mel
of limited means. 1t Is equally so for thu
capitalist Exemption laws are all in fave
of the poor, and nowhere are the propert!
and legal rights of women more perfect.
protected.
| But must now devote a short space I,
our beautiful little city Of Kinsley, wher'
/ am located, and Its prospects for the iu
ture. 1t is handsomely laid out on a leve
prairie, has many fine buildings, grade'
streets. churches, schools, elegant resi-
dences, the best court house In central o
western Kansas, and the handsomest rail